Southern California Regional Basketball : Pt. Loma Versus Edison: Defense of the Realm

The Point Loma High School girls’ basketball team not only has the offensive threat of All-American forward Terri Mann, but it has shut down opponents this season with its man-to-man defense.

That pressure, along with Mann’s scoring, has allowed Point Loma to outscore its opponents by 79-31 this season.

Huntington Beach’s Edison, which will meet the Pointers tonight at 6:15 for the Division 1 girls’ Southern Regional championship at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, also has dominated with its man defense.

“In a game like this, it will come down to which defense does the better job,” said Lee Trepanier, Point Loma coach. “They are the first team we will face this season that plays a man-to-man defense all of the time.

“Actually, I would give them a slight edge defensively.”

Edison (31-1) has more experience and has played a more difficult schedule, Trepanier said.

“It’s going to take a great effort,” said Dave White, Edison coach. “But I think we can beat them. I mean, we respect Terri Mann a whole lot, but I don’t think they’re as strong at other positions as they have been in the past.”

He was referring to the Point Loma guards. In the past, the guards had been a strength because of Chanelle McCoy, who was an excellent ball handler and outside shooter. But McCoy graduated last June.

Edison guards Michelle Hennessey (four-year starter) and Denise Ogburn (three-year starter) will be matched against Point Loma’s Monica Filer (a sophomore) and Lois Guillory (a junior).

“I don’t think their guards can handle the pressure that Edison is going to put on them,” said John Hattrup, Mission Viejo coach, whose team lost to Edison, 46-42, Thursday.

But Mann, not Point Loma’s guards, has been responsible for the Pointers’ success this season. Mann has led Point Loma to the state title three straight years.

“Terri is a once-in-a-lifetime player,” Trepanier said. “Naturally, we would like to get the ball in Terri’s hands or Monica’s hands.”

Filer averaged 15 points a game going into the Southern Regional playoffs.

Mann is, by consensus, the state’s best girl high school player. She has led Point Loma to a 119-1 record in four seasons. The only loss came early last season, against Pasadena Muir in the Santa Barbara Christmas tournament.

Mann, 6-feet 2-inches, has set national high school records in rebounding for a career (2,187) and a season (747), and is second in all-time scoring with 3,106 points.

She is a two-time San Diego Section player of the year, averaging 37 points and 28 rebounds a game.

She is a two-time All-American many compare with Cheryl Miller in talent and ability to carry an entire basketball team. Mann has done that this season.

When Point Loma beat Kennedy of Granada Hills, 56-50, in the semifinals Thursday, Mann scored 40 points. She had 25 of Point Loma’s 27 first half points.

“We haven’t faced anybody like Terri Mann,” White said. “You’re not going to be able to stop her. We’re going to have slow her down a bit.”

Times Staff Writer Steve Lowery contributed to this story.